domingo, 28 de junio de 2015

This trip to Japan was not only for
tourism, training or study, but for something more: my wedding.

After getting married in Spain in the
Franciscan convent church of my hometown (Benissa), Aki and I and our
two families traveled to Japan to get married in Shinto ritual at the
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura.

The truth is that explain each and
every stage of a traditional Japanese wedding would require a single
book. The protocols to be followed according to the traditional Sahô
are many and complex. The couple must follow a very precise
indications both from the time of departure to the temple in a
special wedding jinrikisha (rickshaw). In Wakamiya while our families
listen the instructions to follow, Aki and I must read and sign the
declaration "in fornt of the gods" (Seishi). It is the man
who must do it with a Shôdô style, so I had to implement my
rudimentary script to write our names and the year in which we are,
based on the current Era (Heisei). After being escorted by a
wonderful Gagaku orchestra (traditional Japanese music), we arrive at
Maiden or pavilion where we were get married in the presence of the
gods. Here again it is up to the man to read the words that are
directed to the Shinto deities. Also Shinto priest and his assistant
proceeded to make sacred readings and the priestess performed a
ritual dance. First the priests and then Aki and I did Tamagushi
Oharai with Sakaki tree branches. Both dance as this rite allude to
the day when the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu not ōmikami) was locked in a
cave. All these rituals have a purifying and repel evil spirits and
at the same time draw the attention of the gods on those who will get
married. Finally, husband, wife and their families drank sacred sake
served in a golden teapot. After leaving the Maiden, again with the
Gagaku music and a procession the ceremony ended, but the wedding
feast continued with the family, held at the luxurious restaurant
Kamakurayama. This protocol was almost higher than in the temple,
every minute is scheduled in the banquet to the millimeter. Quite an
experience of japanese traditions.

Nakayama Aki - Ryôen Ryûko

And all this many be thinking ... what
has this to do with the bujutsu? Usually these events, especially the
Shinto ceremony at the Maiden, only the nearby blood family is
allowed. For me, besides my family and my new Spanish Japanese
political family, I have a Japanese family of bujutsu. My teacher
Sekiguchi Komei sensei, 21st headmaster Musô Jikiden
Eishin ryû iaijutsu (Komei Juku) "adopted me" giving me
his surname and named me Sekiguchi Kenryū. Also my teacher Shimizu
Nobuko sensei, school leader of Ryôen ryû naginatajutsu, also
"adopted me" appointing me Ryôen Ryukô. That is why I
wanted to invite them to so precious ceremony and emotional day for
me. Sekiguchi sensei unfortunately could not attend due to scheduling
problems, so he sent on their behalf to one of his top instructors,
Noguchi Fukuko sensei, who is also the school leader of Kôfu ryû
kenbu. My naginata teacher Shimizu Nobuko sensei could go and so with
her son, my good friend and "brother" Shimizu Masahito.

Nakayama Aki

Time to read the "shukuji" or
speech for the couple, Noguchi sensei got up and read the really
emoting speech who wrote Sekiguchi sensei for the moment. I really
feel very honored that my teacher appreciate me enough to devote so
many nice words. When emotions began to be quiet, it was time for the
cheers, this time my naginata teacher, Shimizu senseispoke and also
gave us so lovely words.

The banquet was enjoyable within the
protocol, among others thanks to the work of emcee Aki maternal uncle
and a magic show his paternal uncle.

We go out to the restaurant garden, and
before Aki father's words a ruling ending event, Aki and I had a
surprise prepared for our sensei.

Since Aki is my student of Ryôen ryû
naginatajutsu (just over two and a half years ago), both conducted a
embu of naginata. The kata were chosen with a special meaning. I
acted uchidachi (katana), while Aki shidachi (naginata). In the first
series of school (Shôden no Bu), we did the first kata (Minamo)
where shidachi wins. We continue with the seventh kata (Naginata
Zôri) where he won uchidachi. To finish and balance and harmonize we
conclude with the sixth kata (Musubi Kiri) in which both draw or
"tie" with a harmony and breathing: shiawase-kokyûhô.
After that I took the naginata to finish with the last kata of the
second series (Ryû no Bu): Kogarashi.

After this, Aki retired and I did a
embu of Musô Jikiden Eishin ryû iaijutsu, following Noguchi sensei
instructions I did the 3 kata of the Bangai Sanbon (Hayanami, Raiden,
Jinrai) and the 5 kata of the Bangai Gohon (Mae, Aranami, Kesa
Guruma, Taki Guruma and Tatsumaki).

With this ended the ceremonies and said
goodbye briefly as the sensei we would see shortly.

Sekiguchi Kenryû

After a sightseeing tour where we
showed the wonders of Japan to my parents and brother, it was time to
train.

The first place was the Kamata dôjô,
led by Fujii Katsuko sensei (the right hand of Sekiguchi sensei and
his former student). Here I had the opportunity to train with Obiki
Ritsuko sensei and Yamazaki Hiroo sempai. Keiko work was the three
iaijutsu series of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu: Seiza no Bu (11 kata),
Tate Hiza no Bu (10 kata), Oku Iai Iwaza (8 kata) and Oku Iai
Tachiwaza (13 kata) . We also had the chance to see the "extra"
Bangai Gohon series of 5 kata. I apreciate so much all the
corrections and patience of my sensei and sempai when they showed me
the correct forms.

The second place of training was the
dôjô located in Shinagawa. There I had the great chance to have a
private keiko with Fujii sensei, which focused on improving those
things I didn't understand so weel during the session of Kamata dojo.
The work was the same, 47 kata in total, with many repetitions and
many corrections. It is really impressive to see and train with Fujii
sensei who at 75 years old can perform each and every kata, both
seiza and tate hiza perfectly. Fujii sensei was already a student of
the former headmaster of our school the 20th Onoe Masamitsu and she
was kôhai of our current headmaster, the 21st Sekiguchi
Komei, so she has countless years of study of iaijutsu.

Yamazaki Hiroo sempai doing hikitaoshi

As for Ryôen ryû naginatajutsu keiko,
Shimizu sensei also gave me the possibility of a private workout with
her. We choose the Kanagawa Kenritsu Budôkan. Inside the majestic
architecture, you can meet students groups of iaidô, kendô, kyûdô,
Koryû, karate...all bowing each other with respect and all creating
a truly martial atmosphera. For example the shôdòjô we had
allocated (as it was very large) we shared half with a group of
Shintô Musô Ryû jôdô Kyûshû line (Otofuji-Suigetsukai).

Kanagawa Kenritsu Budôkan

Naginata training was focused on kihon
and the 10 kata of the first series Shoden no Bu, in its part of
shidachi and uchidachi. Towards the end of the 5 hours of Keiko, we
also had occasion to see the five kata in the second set Ryû no Bu.

Shimizu sensei felt really comfortable
in this place. Since the place is 65km away from its usual home and
place of training (in Saitama Yoshikawa) I asked why this
familiarity, and the answer was the following: Almost 40 years ago,
Shimizu went to this same dôjô to receive classes of Jikishinkage
ryû naginatajutsu by the hands of Toya Akiko, the 17th sôke
(remember that Shimizu sensei is Tora no Maki-8th dan
Hanshi in this Koryû). Shimizu sensei told me that usually it was
she who had to move to Ôsaka to attend classes at the dôjô
Jikishinkage ryû hombu, but occasionally, Toya sôke came to Kantô
to provide special keiko in Kanagawa Budôkan and Chiba Budôkan,
occasions that Shimizu did not waste. I felt honored to be able to
train in a place that not only martial history in general, but in
relation to our own naginata school. Right where Shimizu sensei had
been a deshi, now I was the student and her the teacher.

Shimizu Nobuko sensei - Ryôen Ryûko

For the final practice session we
returned to move to Shinagawa dôjô for a double session Musô
Jikiden Eishin ryû iaijutsu led by Fujii sensei and Ryôen ryû
naginatajutsu session directed by Shimizu sensei.

We started with Tôhô Gohon (5 kata)
series followed by Seiza no Bu (11 kata), Tate Hiza no Bu (10 kata)
and Oku Iai series Iwaza (8 kata) series. From here two groups were
formed. One with the sensei and sempai where they worked the Bangai
series and kenjutsu-kumitachi Tachi Uchi no Kurai Nanahon no Kata and
myself alone I performed many times the Oku Iai Iwaza to correct all
my mistakes. Finally, Fujii sensei asked me about some kata which
had doubts and my answer was train the renzoku-waza Hayanuki Chudan
morote, Hayanuki Chudan katate and Hayanuki chudan katate tachiwaza.
The truth is that thanks to the sensei and sempai I learned many
things that I hope to remember and teach to my students in Madrid.

Onoe Masato sempai

After iaijutsu keiko it was time to
Ryôen ryû naginatajutsu where Shimizu sensei, Onoe san and I made
the first series Shoden no Bu, both shidachi and uchidachi. We also
had time to perform the kata Shihô Giri - Shihô Barai, where we
study the reihô. Finally we get into two of the kata of the third
series Tora no Bu: Hi Omote, and Hishô. I will not say which are the
most difficult because each and every one of the kata of the third
series are extremely difficult. Shimizu sensei says that when you get
to master these kata both shidachi and uchidachi, the level will be
equivalent to a 7th dan.

For ending all went to dinner at a
restaurant as a farewell to Japan, because the next day he left for
Spain.

This trip has been special from the
first moment, marked by my marriage with Aki, there was also time for
a hard and consistent training of bujutsu. The promise in gratitude
to the efforts of my sensei is train hard, give my best in each Keiko
and return next, stronger and wiser for them to see the fruits of the
teachings.

deshi Spain hombu

Thank you very much to my family for
joining Japan, my political family for welcoming me into their home
in Yokohama and treat me so well, my sensei for welcoming me warmly
and teaching me so much and of such quality, and of course Aki, by
marrying me and understand that my "honeymoon" had to be
going from dôjô to dôjô, in this I think I have the most
comprehensive and good wife in the world.

Jorge receiving the certificate of member of Komei Juku sealed by 21st Sekiguchi Komei

Once we returned to Spain, one of the
first things I started to organize a Special Course Corrections Muso
Jikiden Eishin ryû iaijutsu where to teach every one of the things
seen in the Japanese Keiko. This course was effective the delivery to
Jorge of its accreditation as an official member of Koryû (I brought
from Japan). At this point we can say that the school grows in
membership, since we Jorge makes two of us who are recognized as
registered students Musô Jikiden Eishin ryu iaijutsu Komei Juku. Our
Spain hombu has many students which are not yet members, but I have
no doubt that with effort and tenacity in the keiko may get it soon.

Day 0
After getting up at 4 am to go to the airport, I asked the packer to pack the suitcase with bokken to avoid having to pay excess baggage, I took the plane to Frankfurt in what would be the first stage of trip, the flight left on time and landed without any problem, but since rail strike had predicted some problems then. Besides, I was lucky, because the strike because the trains were late, but if it had not been for that I should have been about 2-3 hours to wait for the next ICE to go to Stuttgart.

I arrived to Stuttgart with three hours left for a walk and do some sightseeing, bad of these trips is that there is usually no lockers in which fit a bag of weapons, surely some of the locals would be wondering what happened to the weird man who walk trough the Königstraße, the Schlossgarten and the Schlossplatz with a package as long (especially the supermarket cashier I went twice in half an hour to buy souvenirs)

By chance I ran into a festival of animated films that are held outdoors in the Schlossplatz and saw an episode of a new version of Heidi produced in Germany, there was still a remastering 3D of the original, but it made me a little of illusion.
In Stuttgart I took the regional train to Böbingen an der Rems, from where I would pick to go Bartholomä. Once in the room I feel sleep until Rudi-sensei came with Sekiguchi Sensei and Sonoko-sensei, and Hakim-san, and we all went to dinner together at a restaurant in Heubach, which was formerly a factory traditional beer, which is still active.

Day 1
Keiko was only in the afternoon, as preparation for what comes tomorrow, for 4 hours (with a little rest) Bangai Gohon practice the full series, with Sekiguchi sensei kata Takiguruma with 10 henka different. The Bangai Gohon or Toryu Bangai series is exclusive line Komei Juku, and is a high-level practice in terms of cuts and changes directions.
The other days keiko was distributed as follows:
6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.. Keiko.
Breakfast.
10:00 - 13h. Keiko.
13h. Food.
16: 00-19h. - Keiko.

Day 2
The first full day of the seminar was devoted mostly to kumitachi, specifically the Tsume Iai no Kurai series. In the morning we practice kata Kobushidori Hassô, rotating so often as Jukuchô likes. We finished the first two hours with some iaijutsu, making the entire second series: Tatehiza no Bu, with special emphasis on kata Ukigumo.
After a good breakfast, it was time for the morning keiko. We continue with Tsume Iai kata: Tsubame Gaeshi, Ganseki Otoshi and Suigetsutô, and at the end of iaijutsu we followed the third series Oku Iai Iwaza, plus extra training of kata Kasumi.
During the afternoon Keiko we did chôtôjutsu versions of several kata, both individual (Kasumi, Mae Yae Gakki, Ukigumo and Oroshi) and pairs kata (Suigetsutô). Of iaijutstu, we trained the first series: Seiza no Bu (Mae Yae Gakki, Ukenagashi, Tsukekomi and Tsukikage) and the complete series Oku Iai Tachiwaza (insisting kata Kabezôe), ending with the top series Bangai Sanbon and Bangai Gohon.

Day 3
This morning we practiced kata Toho Gohon belonging to schools (Musô Jikiden Eishin ryû, Mugai ryû, Shinto Munen Ryû, Sui Ô Ryû and Hoki ryû). Sekiguchi sensei occasionally taught kata with few variations or even completely different, because he wanted to tell us wat's matter in a potential conflict situation. Then we made a series of cuts designed to shinzan-tameshigiri, emphasizing in trying to make quick cuts, and we ended up doing a bit of kumitachi. We did the Tachi Uchi no Kurai Nanahon no Kata series.
After breakfast we played more Nanahon no Kata, we were three hours of Keiko practicing the kihon and sensei also encouraged us to try several henka was teaching us.
After lunch we did different chôtôjutsu kata as versioning or Shiho Giri, Kesa Guruma, and also tameshigiri cuts like in the morning. At the end we practice in pairs the Chôtô version Uroko Gata - Uroko Gaeshi and made special suburi (kesagiri-kiriage-kesagiri).

Day 4
We beggin the day with Oku Iai, we have made the first three kata (Yukizure, Tsuredachi and Sô Makkuri) both kihon and henka.
After breakfast we change Oku Iai by kumitachi Tsume Iai, but in between we saw the kata Kabezoe in its different variants, depending on which side is the wall.
The last Keiko was reserved for the brave, that endured until the end of the seminar. We started practicing Bangai Sanbon, the three kata followed in way sensei says "non-stop", then we did a henka Hayanami, did Bangai Gohon "non-stop", and then came the best: Chuuden (Tatehiza not Bu " non-stop ") and then, Okuden (Oku Iai Iwaza" non-stop "), after Okuden review a little more Kasumi standing Moniri and Tatsu Guruma henka. And finally we did Seiza no Bu and Tatehiza no Bu (this time with pauses between kata) at thekeiko ended with the request of one of the students: henka Yukichigai.

Day 5 (Epilogue)
4 who we stayed in the hotel breakfast with Sekiguchi sensei and exchanged opinions on what had been the seminary and then we said goodbye. I picked up my room and then Rudi-sensei took me to the station Böbingen to catch the train back, as I was late for 5 minutes, I expected the next took me to his house and his wife took me to a nearby supermarket to buy a few "souvenirs". After a brief stop in Stuttgart for a few photos I was in the Frankfurt airport. I took the flight smoothly and when I set foot for the first time back in Spain.

In conclusion it was a great experience, I have met a lot of new people, all very friendly. I also refreshed my iai enough and have learned new things. Sensei said he was happy with how I struggled during the seminar, I hope that next time my ankle is 100% recovered so I can train further. And it was also a good opportunity to test myself speaking German, but I would have needed more days to let go of everything.